Burial casing or vault.



H. D. CLARK.

BURIAL CASING OR VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.6, 1910.

1,0055 1 3, Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

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HUBERT D. CLARK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

IBURIAL CASING OR VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application filed. October 6, 1910. Serial N 0. 585,6;14.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT D. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Casings or Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in burial casings or vaults, and has particular application to vaults of the type described, constructed of metal.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to provide a burial casing or vault, constructed entirely of metal, the structure being such that the bottom thereof may first be lowered into the grave and securely anchored or cemented in position, the coflin being then placed upon the elevated flat upper surface of the bottom and the case or covering then lowered into position on the bottom and securely locked thereto.

Still a further object of my invention is to so construct the casing, and the bottom, that with the use of the improved locking means hereinafter described, said top or casing and the bottom, will be securely and permanently locked together, thereby preventing the removal of the coflin contained within the vault.

Still a further object of my invention, is to provide a vault of the type described, which will be waterproof, that is to say, when placed in the grave and the parts are locked together, the ingress of water above the level of the raised portion of the bottom, is prevented.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved vault of the type described, embodying the desired features of consists in the construction, combination and one which will further embrace the feature of security.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and fallin within scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying draw1ngsFigure l is a perspective view of a burial casing or vault embodying my improvements, Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken through the same and showing the locking mechanism retaining the cover in position on the bottom, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, and, Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 1 indicates as an entirety, the base of the vault, the latter comprising the raised portion 2, the horizontal flange 3 extending entirely around said base, said flange at the edges thereof being provided further with the vertically extending flanges 4, these flanges preventing the cutting of the straps by which the vault is lowered into the grave.

Extending transversely at the underside of the bottom, are the casings 55 containing the locking mechanism. This locking mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 in its locking position and in detail in Fig. 5 and comprises the bolt heads 6, one of which is connected to the rod 7 said rod slidably engagmg the opposite bolt head 6, a spring 8 nor mally tending to push said bolt heads apart into their extended or looking position. By reference to said Fig. 5, it will be seen that the bolt head is provided with a shoulder portion 6 so that the outward movement of .the bolt head is limited by the shoulder contacting with the end of the casing.

The covering or casing of the vault is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 9 and comprises an imperforate metallic casing of any suitable form or shape, said casing having an outwardly inclined flange 10 extending entirely around the lower sides and edges of the covering, said flange 1O merging in the flat inwardly extending sections 11, the latter in turn terminating in the vertically extending flange 12, which also extends entirely around the base of the covering, so that the covering is provided with a substantially triangular flange terminating in a short vertical flange.

In the employment of my improved vault, the base is lowered into the grave and secured permanently therein in any desired manner. The coffin is then lowered upon the raised portion 2 of the base, and the top 9 is then also lowered into position upon said base. The weight of the cover will tend to force the locking bolt head inward within their casings 5 and as soon as the flange of the cover has settled into position, the bolts being released from the weight of the cover, are forced outward until their terminals abut against the inner side of the inclined flange of the top. This position is shown in Fig. 2, and it will be noted that said bolt heads securely lock the top or covering to the base, so that it is impossible to remove the same and reach the coffin after said top has been placed in position.

From the above description, it will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple yet efficient means for protecting the coflin and furthermore that said vault is as heretofore stated, waterproof, in that should water in the grave rise, it will only reach the level of the outer flange of the bottom, the air within the casing forming a seal and preventing the further rise of the water and as the coflin when in position, rests upon the raised base considerably above the level of the flanges referred to, the water cannot rise to the level of the bottom and thereby damage the coffin. It will further be noted that when the top is once assembled in position upon the bottom, it cannot be removed without destroying the vault itself, as the locking mechanism is locked in the transversely extending casings 5 at the underside of the base or bottom and therefore incapable of being reached for the purpose of operating the same to release the top and as the locking bolt heads are normally extended through the medium of powerful springs 8, they will at all times be held in such look ing position when the top is in place. A further advantage, is that the vault is so without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claim. What I claim, is A burial vault comprising a base having a raised portion, flanges formed on said base,

a metal cover having a flange formed entirely around the bottom thereof, said flange extending outwardly, thence lnwardly and vert1cally, lock caslngs formed on the underside of the base and locking mechanism within said casings, said mechanism comprising a plurality of bolt heads slidable within the casings connected through a rod, and a spring for normally forcing said bolt heads apart and into engagement with the flange of the cover.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT D. CLARK.

lVitnesses JosEPH P. EAGLESON, R. B. OAVANAGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

